Mole Check Guide

In association with the British Skin Foundation

WHY IS CHECKING YOUR MOLES IMPORTANT?

Skin cancer is a common type of cancer and can affect even young people. Thankfully, the majority of cases aren’t life threatening and can be removed easily if they’re detected early.

We are delighted to have teamed up with the British Skin Foundation to share their easy-to-follow advice on how to keep a close eye on your moles, as well as those of your loved ones.

HOW TO CHECK YOUR MOLES

A SIMPLE 3 STEP GUIDE FROM THE BRITISH SKIN FOUNDATION

Do a full body scan, from top to toe, about once a month to check for moles or marks that are changing or new.

WHAT SHOULD YOU LOOK OUT FOR?

In general, the British Skin Foundation recommends looking out for moles or patches of skin that are growing, changing shape, developing new colours, inflamed, bleeding, crusting, red around the edges, particularly itchy, or behaving unusually. If you are worried about any changes on your skin, even if they are not the same as those described here, you should tell your doctor as soon as possible. If in doubt, get it checked out!

There are actually two main types of skin cancers – melanoma and non-melanoma – and these vary in what they look like on skin. More detail on what to look out for specifically for each type of skin cancer can be found below.

MELANOMA SKIN CANCER

Melanomas are the less common but more serious type of skin cancer. They can develop from existing moles, but they can also appear as new ‘mole like’ marks on the skin. The British Skin Foundation advises that the easiest way to remember what to look out for is by using the alphabet rule

A symmetry

Do the two halves of the mole differ in shape?

B order

Are the edges of the mole blurred? Do the outside edges of the mole look ‘ragged’?

C olour

Is the colour uneven, patchy or is the mole showing different shades? For example, you may see different shades of black, brown, pink and even purple.

D iameter

Is the lesion more than 5mm in diameter? Or has it changed size or become raised?

E xpert

If any of the above signs are positive, make sure you get it checked out by your doctor. If your doctor thinks you have melanoma or is not sure, they can refer you for free through the NHS to see a Consultant Dermatologist.

NON-MELANOMA SKIN CANCER

Non-melanoma skin cancers can occur on any part of the body. Keep an eye out for:

COMMON RISK FACTORS

Some people are more at risk of developing skin cancer than others. Scroll through the carousel below to learn about the risk factors as set out by the British Skin Foundation. For more information, please visit https://www.britishskinfoundation.org.uk/.

Skin Colour or Type

Those who burn easily in the sun have an increased risk of sun damage and skin cancer.

Sunburn

If you have suffered severe sunburn in the past, especially with blisters and in childhood there is a higher risk of skin cancer.

Sunbed Use

AVOID! Short, high intensity exposure to UV radiation which is provided by sunbeds is very dangerous and dramatically increases the risk of skin cancer.

Moles

Those with many (more than 50) moles or with unusual moles which are large, irregular shaped or with many colours in them are at increased risk of skin cancer.

Outdoor Work Or Lifestyle

People who have a lot of overall exposure to the sun (even without burning) are at increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer, so be sure to wear sun cream!

At Garnier Ambre Solaire we're committed to helping you and your family protect your skin from the sun.

With over 80 years of expertise in sun protection, it's our duty to help everyone practice sun safety.

HOW TO STAY SAFE IN THE SUN

Here are our tips for staying safe in the sun, whilst still having fun:

Avoid sun exposure during the times of the day when there is strong sunlight. Spend time in the shade between 11am – 3pm because this is when the UV index is highest.
Keep babies and very young children out of direct sunlight. Reducing a child’s exposure can decrease the risk of sun damage.
When choosing a sunscreen, look for both UVA & UVB protection. Choose a high factor of SPF 30+ to protect against UVB.
Apply plenty of sunscreen around 20-30 minutes before going out in the sun, and reapply every 2 hours and straight after swimming, sweating and towel drying.
Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves, sunglasses and a broad-brimmed or legionnaires style hat to protect the neck, face and ears.